Swords tarot card meanings
Swords belong to air: the mind, words, decisions and the conflicts they create. They include some of the deck's hardest images, which mostly describe mental strain rather than literal events.
- clarity, truthASwordsAce of Swords
- stalemate, difficult choiceIISwordsTwo of Swords
- heartbreak, griefIIISwordsThree of Swords
- rest, recoveryIVSwordsFour of Swords
- conflict, hollow victoryVSwordsFive of Swords
- transition, moving onVISwordsSix of Swords
- strategy, stealthVIISwordsSeven of Swords
- feeling trapped, restrictionVIIISwordsEight of Swords
- anxiety, worryIXSwordsNine of Swords
- painful ending, rock bottomXSwordsTen of Swords
- curiosity, new ideasPSwordsPage of Swords
- ambition, fast thinkingKnSwordsKnight of Swords
- clear boundaries, honestyQSwordsQueen of Swords
- intellect, authorityKSwordsKing of Swords
Swords at a glance
| Card | Upright | Reversed | Yes/No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace of Swords | clarity, truth, breakthrough | confusion, miscommunication, clouded judgement | yes |
| Two of Swords | stalemate, difficult choice, avoidance | indecision, information overload, release | maybe |
| Three of Swords | heartbreak, grief, painful truth | recovery, forgiveness, releasing pain | no |
| Four of Swords | rest, recovery, contemplation | restlessness, burnout, forced rest | maybe |
| Five of Swords | conflict, hollow victory, tension | reconciliation, making amends, moving on | no |
| Six of Swords | transition, moving on, calmer waters | resistance to change, unfinished business, turbulence | yes |
| Seven of Swords | strategy, stealth, deception | confession, conscience, getting caught | no |
| Eight of Swords | feeling trapped, restriction, self-limiting beliefs | release, new perspective, freedom | no |
| Nine of Swords | anxiety, worry, sleeplessness | hope, reaching out, releasing worry | no |
| Ten of Swords | painful ending, rock bottom, release | recovery, regeneration, resisting an end | no |
| Page of Swords | curiosity, new ideas, vigilance | gossip, all talk, scattered thinking | maybe |
| Knight of Swords | ambition, fast thinking, drive | recklessness, tactlessness, burnout | yes |
| Queen of Swords | clear boundaries, honesty, independence | coldness, bitterness, harsh judgement | yes |
| King of Swords | intellect, authority, truth | manipulation, cruelty, abuse of power | yes |
Other suits: Wands Cups Pentacles · Major Arcana
Questions people ask
What do Swords mean in tarot?
Swords are the suit of air and cover thought, truth, conflict and communication.
How many Swords cards are there?
Fourteen: Ace through Ten, plus the four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen and King).
What does a reading full of Swords mean?
When Swords dominate a spread, the question is mostly about thought and conflict and communication.